How do you go from no kitchen at all to dream kitchen? The Sebastian family will hopefully inspire interior design enthusiasts about how patience, creativity, and some savvy spending can go a long way! First, let’s get to know this inventive family: Mommy Lora is a cake designer who creates custom cakes for events, so it’s no surprise that she loves working in the kitchen. Daddy Julius, meanwhile, runs his own digital design company and is a pro at wood work. Their 4-year old son, Alon, takes after his Mom and Dad, because he also loves creating things with his hands.
Lora and Julius designed, not just the kitchen, but their entire home. Julius also builds some of their furniture pieces in his wood workshop, which is also part of their house! The kitchen is still an ongoing project, but Lora and Julius made incredible progress since designing it from scratch back in 2018. Here’s how they did it.
Coming Up with Their Vision
Lora shares that there are plenty of things to consider when building a house such as where the rain hits when there’s a storm or which areas are the warmest in the morning. Layout and storage are some of the things they need to improve on, but so far, their home is looking so cozy and welcoming.
Designing with Purpose
Since they were working with limited space, Lora and Julius agreed that everything they place in the kitchen needs to have a purpose. Nothing purely decorative. Nothing just for styling. They want their kitchen to be truly functional, and to be a space where they can spend lots of time in.
Baby-Proofing
Speaking of accessibility for little ones, Alon was already around when Lora and Julius started building their house, so baby-proofing became instinctive for them. This Mom and Dad were very intentional when it came to choosing and building furniture pieces. Everything had to be sturdy – drawer slides, and soft-close cabinets, among others. Lora and Julius made sure the layout of their cabinetry will also provide Alon with easy access. His utensils and plates, for example, are all organized in lower drawers so he can reach for them himself. Mom and Dad tried to make the snacks harder to reach but this clever boy learned how to climb the counters all the way to the goodies in the cupboards!
Buying Non-Negotiable Items
Non-negotiable items are the ones you simply cannot live without. When you consider your lifestyle, and day-to-day routines, you’ll be able to determine what your “must-haves” are. For Lora and Julius, non-negotiables are also the items they use everyday These are essentials worth investing in!
Sticking to a Realistic Budget
Lora and Julius have always dreamt of having a beautiful kitchen but they also had to be realistic with their budget. Patience is also key, according to Lora. If there are certain pieces that you really want but can’t find or afford yet right now, you can always sit back and wait. “Do not fear missing out,” says Lora. “Set a look and budget and stick to it. It saves you from spending on something you’re not so keen on. When you find that one, absolutely perfect piece, it will mean so much more to you.
Collecting Meaningful Pieces
To turn a house into a home, include pieces that have sentimental value and stories behind them. Like Lora, you can start collecting even before you build your home, so you’ll already be able to save items you love and cherish. Whenever Lora and Julius would travel, they made it a point to collect pieces that would match the dream kitchen they had in mind.
